Micky Dolenz was born March 8, 1945, at 6:30 in the morning, in Los Angeles, California, to parents, George and Janelle Dolenz. His given name was George Michael Dolenz and he was born at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital. His father George Dolenz, was an actor who appeared in many movies in the 1950’s and starred in the TV series “The Count of Monte Cristo”. His mother Janelle Dolenz (formerly Johnson) had done some acting as well. She met George while co-staring with him in a play.
When Micky was two his first sister was born, Coco Dolenz. Her real name is Gemma Marie Dolenz, but Micky gave her that nickname. They were best friends and used to create songs to sing together as children. (Eventually Coco would do a few demos with Micky during his Monkees years that can be found on Rhino’s Missing Links 3.)
Micky’s acting career began at the age of six, when he began taking screen tests. He actually won a role in a movie, but unfortunately it was canceled. All thoughts of acting were temporarily put on hold when at age seven he was diagnosed with Perthese disease. He had to have his leg strapped up for a year! When he was ten he auditioned for a role in a new series called “Circus Boy”. It was about an orphaned boy growing up in the Circus at the turn of the century. He had an elephant named “Bimbo” for a best buddy. He got the role and became a child star. He even toured with his elephant and sang songs. The show stopped in 1957 after three years. Between then and Micky graduating high school two new sisters were born, Deborah and Gina.
When Micky graduated from high school he enrolled in the San Fernando College. Unfortunately in 1963, Micky’s father died at age fifty-five. Micky dropped out of college and took a job as a mechanic for Mercedes Benz until 1964. In 1964 his mother re-married to Dr. Robert Scott and moved to San Francisco. Micky stayed behind in Los Angeles. He still loved to perform and answered ads occasionally for small parts on TV. He went to a trade college and met a few musicians. They formed a group called Micky and the One Nighters, later the Missing Links. Micky left school and became the guitarist. He traveled around with them and played in lots of clubs. He was kicked out of the band after the other members realized they’d make more money if they only had to split it one less way.
Micky continued to audition for TV shows. In 1965 he went to the Columbia lot for the audition that would change his life, the Monkees. He went through the same auditions and screen tests as everyone else and won the role of one of the four musicians the show was about. Micky took it as though it was an acting job and agreed to play the drums, even though he was a guitarist. He was picked to sing a lot of the songs. The Monkees experience changes Micky’s life dramatically. His mother watched his money for him, so that when it was over he still had money to live on.
While in the Monkees, Micky visited England and appeared on “The Top of the Pops”. He met Samantha Juste there. They dated for a while before they were married, on July 12, 1968, in Laurel Canyon. Samantha was pregnant and on 1/8/69 Ami Bluebell Dolenz was born. By this time the Monkees series had ended after 58 episodes. The Monkees were leaving one by one. By the time the album “Changes” came out, it was only Micky and Davy. That was the last album they would make until 1986.
After the Monkees Micky tried to get another job acting, but he was too well known. People thought he was a Monkee, not an actor. He auditioned for the part of “The Fonz” in Happy Days, but didn’t get it. All the parties he was having at his mansion and unexpected guests were taking their toll on Micky and on Samantha. She divorced him in the mid 70’s.
In 1975 and 1976, Micky toured the USA with Davy, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart as Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart. Mike and Peter weren’t interested at the time, so Tommy and Bobby filled in to make it a quartet. They enjoyed a mild success at amusement parks and such. They released a few singles too. Micky was glad just to be working again. After the group broke up, Micky and Davy joined Peter to record a single called, “Christmas is My Time of Year”. It was sold to people in their fan club.
Micky and Davy worked together in a few shows and plays afterwards. Davy accidentally ran into Harry Nilsson, in 1978, and he offered Davy a role in “The Point”, a British stage production. Davy insisted Micky be given a role too. It was very successful and a soundtrack was made. While the show was on in England, Micky was introduced to an agent named Linda Seifert. She offered to find Micky some work as a director in England. He had directed a few commercials and an episode of the Monkees (The Frodis Caper or Mijacogeo). He got a job directing an episode of the BBC series called “Premiere”. Micky enjoyed directing and decided to keep trying for more directing jobs. He did several interviews and was offered a job directing a new series called “Metal Mickey”. Micky stayed in England and worked on many other projects, like short films and commercials. He even directed a couple segments for Mike Nesmith’s TV series “Television Parts”.
Micky re-married to Trina Dow and had three more daughters, Charlotte Janelle Dolenz born 8/8/81, Emily Clair Dolenz born 7/25/83 and Georgia Rose Dolenz born 9/3/84. Micky had continuing success with his producing and directing in England up until the mid 80’s. In 1986 he was asked to join a Monkees tour with Peter and Davy, to celebrate their twentieth anniversary. He originally turned it down to stay in England. After much persuasion Micky agreed. He brought along his daughters for what was supposed to be a twelve week run. With the re-airing of the Monkees and the re-charting of seven of their old albums, Monkeemania had struck again! The tour went on for three years! Micky went back into the studio and recorded some new songs with Peter. Davy, Peter and Micky also made “Pool It!”, a new album. Rhino records started re-issuing all of the old albums along with unreleased songs on CD.
In 1993, Micky wrote an autobiography along with Mark Bego, on his life called “I’m a Believer, My Life of Monkees, Music, and Madness”. In 1996, all four Monkees reunited to record an all new album called “JUSTUS”. It was written, produced and performed all by the Monkees with little outside help if any. Micky, Davy and Peter toured the USA during 1996 and 1997. Micky is now divorced. He continues to explore every aspect of his talents. He has been creating acrylic paintings for Image Makers and is touring the USA with his art. He has also recently appeared in many guest spots on TV, including “Politically Incorrect” and “Pictionary”. Watch out for more in the future from Micky!